Author: Elise Meerpoel

Annual Normandy to take place today.

Ministers from Guernsey and Jersey are today attending the annual political summit with the region of Normandy and the department of La Manche. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, attendees will not meet in person, but will hold the summit via videoconferencing.

The annual summit has been held since 2015, when a cooperation agreement was signed between Jersey, Guernsey, La Manche, and the region of Lower Normandy (which is now unified with Upper Normandy). Alderney and Sark join the meeting as associate members of the agreement.

As part of the cooperation agreement, representatives from each jurisdiction meet each year to explore how they can work together.

The summit will focus on three main issues which affect all parties: the impact of COVID-19, Brexit and its potential impact, and fishing.

 The following representatives will be attending:

• Jersey will be represented by Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, and Minister for External Relations, Senator Ian Gorst
• Guernsey will be represented by Member of the Policy and Resources Committee with responsibility for external relations, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq
• Alderney will be represented by Vice-President James Dent
• Sark will be represented by Chief Secretary Zannette Bougourd
• Normandy will be represented by President Hervé Morin and Vice-President Anne-Marie Cousin
• La Manche will be represented by President Marc Lefévre and Vice-President of the departmental council, Jean Morin
• The Préfecture of La Manche will be represented by the Préfet of La Manche, Gérard Gavory

Minister for External Relations in Jersey, Senator Ian Gorst said: “The Normandy Summit provides a welcome opportunity for us strengthen the long-standing relationship with our nearest neighbours.

“This is particularly important, given the international scope of the challenges we face. Britain’s departure from the EU, and the outbreak of COVID-19 have had – and will continue to have – effects across borders and communities. Meanwhile, ongoing discussions about fisheries require ongoing cooperation and negotiation.

“I look forward to having productive discussions with our colleagues from Normandy and La Manche, and ensuring that we can continue to work together for our mutual benefit.”

Chief Minister of Jersey, Senator John Le Fondré said: “Given the unprecedented times in which we find ourselves, it is even more important than usual that we continue to build on and strengthen the ties we enjoy with our neighbours in the Normandy region. Today’s virtual summit represents an important part of this work and I’m grateful to our regional friends for a productive discussion.”

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Member of the Policy and Resources Committee in Guernsey with responsibility for external relations, said: “I am pleased to be attending the annual summit of the governments of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey and the authorities of Normandy and La Manche, which provides the opportunity to continue engagement with our closest neighbours and regional partners.

Guernsey’s relationship with Normandy and France will continue to be important for islanders in the months and years to come, particularly as we move towards the end of the transition period and the implementation of a new relationship between the UK and the EU, and continue to deal with the impact of COVID-19. Our work continues to strengthen this regional relationship for our mutual benefit and where our interests are aligned.”

The next summit will be held in Jersey in 2021.

Crédit photo D. Daguier

   

The dates of Olivier Meriel’s exhibition, l’île dans les Isles, which was exhibited in Guernsey in 2018, Jersey in 2019, and Caen in 2020 have been extended. Initially scheduled in Caen from 14 February to 30 April, the public was unable to view the Channel Islands photo exhibit due to lockdown. This is why the Musée de Normandie has decided to extend the exhibition when the museum reopens, from 2 June to 23 August 23. A decision hailed by Anglo-Norman cousins.

More information here

  The Governments of Guernsey and Jersey have renewed their partnership agreement with the departmental council of Ille et Vilaine for another three years.

 Representatives from both Islands were due to attend the annual summit between Guernsey, Jersey, and Ille et Vilaine in St Malo today where the agreement would have been signed, but due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, the parties agreed to go ahead with the signing by videoconference.  The agreement has been signed, enabling cooperation between the three jurisdictions to continue for a further three years.  A formal meeting of representatives has been rescheduled for spring 2021.

 Jersey has enjoyed fifteen years of joint working with one of its closest neighbours, Ille et Vilaine. Guernsey officially joined the partnership in 2017. The cooperation agreement facilitates joint working in a number of areas, including education and youth, culture and arts, as well as transport, and trade.  It also enables discussions to take place on strategic issues such as the impact on the Channel Islands and the port of St Malo of the UK’s departure from the EU.  In 2019, the Prefecture of Brittany attended the annual summit as an observer to provide updates on subjects within its mandate such as emergency planning and customs and immigration matters.

 At the virtual signing ceremony, the departmental council of Ille et Vilaine was represented by its President, Jean Luc Chenut; Jersey was represented by the Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré and Minister for External Relations, Senator Ian Gorst; and Guernsey was represented by Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, member of the Policy and Resources Committee with responsibility for external relations.

Jersey will once again be represented at a major agricultural show in Paris this week.

The Economic Development Minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, will lead a delegation to the Salon International de l’Agriculture (SIA) on Sunday, 24 February. The agricultural show is one of the biggest French agriculture events of the year and will provide an opportunity to showcase Jersey’s local produce, to promote the island as a tourist destination, and to strengthen links between Jersey and France.

This will be the seventh year that Jersey has exhibited at the show, which attracts more than 600,000 visitors annually.

Senator Farnham said: “The SIA is one of the world’s largest and most important agricultural shows. This popular and high-profile event provides us with an excellent opportunity to show off what Jersey has to offer, as well as allowing us to foster relationships with our closest neighbours.”

The department of La Manche will again host Jersey on their stand at the event, giving the island a platform to promote local produce and to showcase Jersey as a holiday destination. Visitors to the Jersey area of the Normandy stand will be able to see different varieties of daffodils grown in Jersey, and will sample a taste of Genuine Jersey products – including black butter, cider, salted caramel, pork pies, and new locally-produced Biltong. The stand will also offer festival-goers the chance to win a trip to the island.

La Manche has welcomed Jersey to share their stand since 2014, and Senator Farnham will meet President of La Manche, Marc Lefèvre, to renew this partnership during his trip.

Senator Farnham added: “This is a significant yearly opportunity for us to promote Jersey’s products, particularly Jersey Lobster, Jersey Oyster, Jersey Royals and Jersey Dairy: four of our most important agricultural exports. The event is also the perfect opportunity for us to endorse the island as a holiday destination, and for us to build links with a number of influential decision makers in France.

“It’s fantastic to have this annual chance to demonstrate our close links with Normandy, and I am delighted to be able to renew this partnership for three more years.”

Guernsey and Jersey have attended the annual political summit with the region of Normandy and the department of La Manche to re-sign a cooperation agreement that promotes greater partnership working between the four jurisdictions.

A cooperation agreement was first signed between Jersey, Guernsey La Manche and the region of Lower Normandy in January 2015, and this was renewed in September 2016 following the unification of the regions of Upper and Lower Normandy. Alderney and Sark are associate members of the agreement. As part of the cooperation the six jurisdictions have met annually to explore opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. This year, the department of La Manche hosted the summit in Cherbourg.

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, member of the Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for External Relations, Senator Ian Gorst, Minister for External Relations in Jersey, Hervé Morin, President of the Region of Normandy and Marc Lefèvre, President of the Conseil Départemental of La Manche, jointly chaired the summit where various subjects were discussed. These included Brexit and its implications for the Channel Islands, including fishing and contingency planning for a no-deal exit. Areas of regional cooperation were also discussed, such as educational links; cultural initiatives; and economic opportunities. James Dent, Chairman of the Policy & Finance Committee and Vice-President of the States of Alderney, also attended the meeting.

 

Member of the Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for External Relations Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq said:

“It was a pleasure for me to attend the annual summit of the governments of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey and the authorities of Normandy and La Manche and renew the cooperation agreement for the next three years at this time of significant for us all.

As we work towards the UK’s withdrawal from the EU we are seeking stability and to minimise disruption caused by the UK exit.  This includes seeking agreement to manage how fisheries matters will be affected. It is our desire to be able to settle these issues directly to protect our interests, ensure we conserve our marine environment and balance our interests in cross border trade.

I look forward to continuing these discussions as we look to strengthen our relationship with Normandy and France, for our mutual benefit and where our interests are aligned.”

 

Senator Ian Gorst, Minister for External Relations in Jersey, said:

“This Summit with the leaders of Normandy and La Manche gave us the opportunity to strengthen the long-standing relationship Jersey has with our nearest neighbours.  We reviewed progress our cooperation over higher education, student exchanges, culture, environment – including marine renewable energy, tourism and other areas of our economies.

“The renewal of the cooperation agreement further emphasises the Channel Islands’ and Normandy’s commitment to working closely and productively together. The political leaders all affirmed that such co-operation is particularly important at the time of the UK’s exit from the EU. I agreed with my Norman colleagues that the cooperation between Jersey and France under the Bay of Granville Agreement was an example of mutual benefits that can derive from working together. We agreed to continue discussions about this.

I welcome the Normandy regional authority’s commitment to smooth market access for Jersey fishermen, and am happy to say we have agreed to support a project which will facilitate landings in Granville.”

On 4^th August, a delegation from Jersey and Guernsey travelled to Granville to witness the largest display of Piper L4 and Cubs aircrafts in Europe since the Second World War. This event took place to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the Liberation of Europe, with Granville and Jullouville being liberated on 31^st July 1944.

The delegation comprising Guernsey’s President of Policy & Resources, Gavin St Pier, Jersey’s Assistant Chief Minister, Connétable Christopher Taylor, and Deputy of St Martin Steve Luce, attended a gathering with the President of La Manche, Marc Lefèvre, the Mayor of Jullouville, Alain Brière, and the President of Piper Operation Cobra, Philippe Renaudet. This was followed by an air display and exhibition of around 350 vehicles at Jullouville beach.

Granville and Jullouville were selected as locations for this event as the former was home to the main headquarters of the French Forces and the latter was where General Dwight D. Eisenhower (who launched the D-Day operations in June 1944) based his Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) in the Castle De La Mare. There, Eisenhower oversaw as many as 30,000 soldiers involved in the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of France and the airbase was dedicated to the Pipers L4-H.

The delegation was honoured to have taken part in the commemorations remembering the sacrifice of all who fought in the Second World War and those who contributed to the Liberation of Europe in 1944.

 

The 9^th – 15^th July saw Jersey and Guernsey celebrate all things French as Le French Festival took place in the islands. Following on from the highly successful first edition which was held in Jersey in 2017, Guernsey also enjoyed participating in the events for the first time this year.

In Jersey, events included a fantastic performance from Breton juggling duo Les Invendus, an international symposium on Wace, a Norman 12^th century poet born in Jersey, and a traditional Norman market amongst many other festivities.

Guernsey events included an array of creative workshops and exhibitions, and there was a strong focus on French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s time in the island with the exhibition of a Renoir original painting, followed by a Renoir art walk.

Both islands hosted around 600 sailors competing the 35^th edition of the Tour des Ports de la Manche, the regatta bringing a colourful display of flags and bunting to the harbours. Thanks to a longstanding relationship with Rennes Opera, Jersey and Guernsey were also lucky enough to broadcast a performance of Wagner’s opera, ‘The Flying Dutchman’, which was initially shown in 22 locations throughout Brittany on 13^th June as part of the “Opera on Screens” initiative.

Le French Festival 2019 was a great success and demonstrates the links between the islands and the French culture as a whole.  Thanks to the organising committee and all partners, and “rendez vous” for the next edition in 2021!